Electric-field control of phase separation and memory effect in Pr0.6Ca0.4MnO3/Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.7Ti0.3O3 heterostructures

Heterostructures were fabricated by growing Pr0.6Ca0.4MnO3 (PCMO) films on Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)(0.7)Ti0.3O3 substrates. It was shown that the magnetizations of the samples can be tuned dramatically by electric fields via piezostrain and the effect is dominated by the change in phase separation. More interestingly, the electric-field control of magnetization is nonvolatile, manifesting a memory effect of strain. The results were discussed by considering the effect of electric-field-induced strain on the energy landscape of PCMO and the resultant change in phase separation. This work is helpful for exploring the evolution of phase separation with well-controlled strains and the magnetoelectric coupling effect. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3584025]